Sheet feeding mechanism



Oct. 17, 1939. J T, HALE SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 193'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l %J/ INVENTOR:

TURN-1.

Oct. 17, J HALE 2,176,176

SHEET FEEDING macmmsu Filed April 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE direct and mesne assignmg ilia, Press Appliance Company,

a corporation to Automatic on County, (3a.,

Application April I9, 1937, Serial No. 137,873

Claims.

This invention relates to sheet feeding devices in general, and particularly to devices for feeding sheets from a pile to a printing press or kindred machine, especially a cylinder press.

5 One object of the invention is to so modernize sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, particularly presses of the high speed cylinder type, that the feed of the sheets to the press cylinder may be made with such speed, simplicity and facility as to enable the press to be effectively operated at desired high speed.

Another object of the invention is to so simplify the sheet feeding mechanism as to reduce its complexity and number of parts to the minimum,

thereby accomplishing a concomitant reduction in the wear and need for adjustment of the parts of the feed mechanism, and providing for simplicity of operation of and easy access to the various parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet feeding mechanism of such compact and simple construction that it may be so associated with the press, or other similar machine, that it may readily be operatively and inoperatively positioned with respect thereto, thus making possible easy access to the working parts of the press or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provlde a sheet feeding mechanism having functional characteristics which readily adapt it to the feeding of sheets of various sizes and weights, without requiring tedious and intricate adjustment of its parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sheet feeding mechanism the operative characteristics of which permit the sheets, though rapidly fed, to be advanced or delivered by such feeding in a relatively gentle manner, thus insuring more accurate register and guarding against injury of the sheets.

This sheet feeding mechanism is so simple in construction and arrangement that it permits elimination of many mechanical parts heretofore deemed necessary in a feeding mechanism of a similar nature and permits utilization of the space thereby acquired to bring the feed board or table nearer to the working parts of the press. This reduces at the outset the length of the path through which the sheets must travel from the pile to the guides of the press. In other words, this device contemplates a slanting arrangement of the pile of sheets upon a feed board or table of elevating type, the slope of the pile being toward the press so that the top of the pile may be 5., brought to a minimum distance from the press guides, the top front edge of the pile being always the same distance from the press guides due to the fact that the pile is elevated proportionately to the diminishment of its height as sheets are fed OK the top. 5

The arrangement of the feeding mechanism being such that the pile may be placed very close to the press, a very short reciprocating stroke (of only a few inches) is necessary to carry a sheet from off the top of the pile and deposit its front 10 edge upon a transverse cylindrical roller, the top of which is practically flush with, or slightly higher than, the guides of the press, whence by the rotation of the roller in a forward direction (toward the press) coupled with air blow thereon 15 or air suction therein to cause adhesion to the roller, the sheet will be moved along by the roller to the press guides. ,Meanwhile, and preferably at the end of feeding movement, the roller may be shifted laterally to a predetermined position 90 to properly align or register the sheet before it is gripped by the gripping mechanism of the press and carried into the press, as will be described hereinafter in more detail.

Furthermore, it is found expedient, and ad- $5 vantageous for the most effective and desirable feeding of the sheets, to provide for intermittent, properly timed, rotation of the roller just referred to, and such intermittent rotation makes possible the alignment or register of the fed 30 sheets preferably at or near the end of the feeding movement as proposed, the lateral shifting of the roller being appropriately timed to its period of rotation, as will hereinafter appear.

The ei'flciency of the feeding mechanism of the 85 invention in the rapid feeding of sheets is, to some extent, predicated upon its cooperation with the press or like machine, in that the speed of the parts of the press or the like is, in a measure, depended upon for the rapid transfer of the fed to sheets to make possible cooperation of the feed mechanism with the sheets of the pile successively and without interference. Thus, the shortness of the path through which the sheets are initially fed by the feed mechanism is made practical, and 46 the consequent close assembly of the feed mechanism to the press parts is possible.

With the foregoing and other objects and features in view, the invention contemplates a sheet feeding mechanism including, broadly, means for 50 supporting a supply of sheets to be fed, and means for successively feeding such sheets to a transfer'mechanism by which transfer of the sheets to the press or other machine is accomplished, the transfer mechanism including, preferably, an inu termittently rotated roll and means for laterally (axially) shifting such roll to properly align or register the fed sheets with appropriate parts of the press or the like in properly timed relation to the operation thereof, suction and blast means preferably being associated with the sheet feeding and transfer mechanism, all as will be pointed out hereinafter more particularly and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated,

Figure l is a partial plan view of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is rear elevation looking from left to right of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the air and roller mechanism viewed from the rear.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings,

the sheet feeding mechanism of the invention is shown as being included as a part of the press or the like with which it is associated. It will be understood, however, that it may be made also as an attachment. In either case, it is proposed that the feeding mechanism be so designed and installed with relation to the press or the like that it may be shifted, bodily, out of operative position in order to facilitate inspection, repair and adjustment of adjacent parts of the press or the like, as hereinbefore indicated.

The various parts of the feeding mechanism are shown as supported by frame members I, here shown as the side frames of a cylinder press, and thereby appropriately located in desired proximity to the impression cylinder C and guides G thereof.

Between the frame members I is arranged a feed board or table 2 upon which a pile 33 of sheets of paper to be fed is placed, the arrangement of the table 2 with respect to the impression cylinder C being such as to bring the sheets to be fed close to the impression cylinder C of the press, thereby reducing to a minimum the distance through which it is necessary to feed the sheets from the table to the cylinder, and consequently similarly reducing the amount of time necessary for the successive feed of the sheets. Moreover, in order that the top of the pile of sheets may be brought close to the cylinder, the leading or forward edges of the sheets are arranged at a slant determined by angularly arranged guides 3 against which such forward or leading edges abut, and by which they are guided, as is also the corresponding edge of the board or table 2.

Any appropriate means 3|, preferably automatically actuated in any suitable manner, may be provided for gradually elevating the board or table 2 and the pile of sheets carried thereby to maintain the height of the top of the pile substantially constant as sheets are successively fed therefrom.

The slanting of the forward edge of the pile of sheets by means of the guides 3 not only facilitates successive removal of the sheets but, in addition, makes it possible to bring the top of the pile nearer to the press cylinder C, while at the same time providing adequate space below and ahead of the guides 3 for accommodation of some of the operative elements of the feed mechanism.

Arranged at each side of the machine are arms I, each of which is rigidly attached at one end to a rock shaft I lournalled in the frame members I, and the end of the rock shaft 5 is provided with an arm II operatively connected by a link I2 with the crank arm II of a drive shaft Il having suitable hearings in the frame members I.

The opposite ends of the arms 4 carry a tubular rod 3 upon which are adjustably mounted suction members I having suction feet III connected to a source of suction through the tubular rod 3 by way of flexible hose connections 6 and a T 3. It will be apparent, therefore, that as oscillating or rocking motion is imparted to the rock shaft 5 by means of the arm II, link I2 and crank I3 in response to rotation of the drive shaft I4, similar rocking motion will be transmitted through the arms to the suction feet I II, and the suction feet will thereby be caused to move back and forth from the full line position to the dotted line position (Fig. 2) and vice versa, thus providing means for successively feeding sheets from the pile.

Obviously, though not so shown, the crank arm I3 may be adjustable to vary its effective radius, and hence the oscillatory stroke of the arms 4 similarly modified as desired.

The suction effect communicated to the feet I3 through the tubular rod 3 may be appropriately controlled with reference to the rocking or oscillatory feeding movement of the suction feet by any suitable valve mechanism, not shown, interposed, for example, in the suction feed line 3'. Moreover, the suction effect may be varied, to accommodate it to various weights and sizes of sheets, and for other requirements, by means of a pet cook 26 normally forming a closure for the end of the tubular rod 9 and opening to atmosphere.

Although only two suction members 'I-IU are shown. it will be understood that more may be furnished if found necessary or desirable. Furthermore, means other than the suction means may be provided for imparting initial feeding movement to the sheets, as will hereinafter appear.

Adjacent to the press cylinder C, and having bearings in the frame members I, is a transfer roll IS, the axis of which is arranged transversely of the direction of feed of the sheets, and suitable exterior-1y arranged air blast or blow means, or interiorly disposed suction means, may be associated with this roll I5 for causing the fed sheets to lightly or non-positively adhere to it in such manner that they may be fed forwardly by contact with the roll.

Although either air blast or suction means may be employed in combination with the roll I5, it has been found that air blast means are more desirable, inasmuch as they tend to cause such light feeding engagement of the sheets with the roll as to preclude the possibility of damage to the sheets incident to their contact with the press guides G by which they are stopped, whereas where suction is applied to the roll for the purpose of ensuring feeding contact with the sheets, the force applied to the sheets may be sufiicient to mar them upon their contact with the guides G.

As shown in the drawings, the air blast or blowing means referred to may comprise two or more adjustable blast nozzles or cocks 23 connected with a blast pipe 22 ecoentricaily supported by arms 33 upon hollow trunnions 39 having hearings in the frame members I, and the position of the blast nozzles 23 with respect to the roll I! may thereby be adjusted. Set screws 31 (Fig. 4) may be provided for maintaining this adJustment.

Although the force of the air blast my be varied, as desired, by appropriate adjustment of the nozzles or cocks II, further control of the blast effect may be had by appropriate adjustment of a pet cook 26' arranged in the end of one of the trunnions 89 and opening to atmosphere. Thus the force oi the blast may be varied to properly accommodate it to various weights and sizes of sheets, and to provide the desired tractive efl'ect on the roll l5.

Air may be supplied to the blast pipe 22 by way of a flexible connection 22' extending to any appropriate blower or pump, and suitable valve means, not shown, may be employed for interrupting the blast effect in timed relation to the operation of the parts, if desired.

In order that feed of the sheets as imparted to them by the roll I! may be so governer as to ensure their proper delivery to the press guides G, it is desirable to have the roll I! intermittently rotated in timed relation to the delivery to it of the sheets by the members ill. To this end, the roll I5 is driven by means of a belt ll cooperating with a concentric pulley 86 on the shaft of the roll and with an eccentrically arranged pulley i6 rotating with the drive shaft ll. bviously, the eccentric arrangement of the pulley It will cause an intermittent successive tightening and loosening of the belt ll and a resultant driving engagement of the belt with the pulley 36. Moreover, the driving engagement thus imparted will be such that the roll l will be given, intermittently, a quick rotative driving impulse which may be imparted as a. feeding impulse to effect transfer of the fed sheets.

It is further desirable that the sheets, in addition to having their leading or forward edges appropriately aligned or registered by contact with the press guides G, should have their side edges aligned or registered. It is necessary, therefore, that each sheet, when fed forward by the roll l5, should have its side edge aligned or registered by contact with an adjustable stop or guide 32, and to this end means are provided for imparting to the roll i5, preferably at approximately the termination of its period of rotation, a lateral, or axial, shifting movement. As one appropriate means for imparting such shifting movement to the roll I5 there is provided (see particularly Figs. 3 and 4) a lever i8 pivoted substantially midway of its length upon a bracket 35 afilxed to the frame member I, this lever carrying at one end a roller 33 engaging the groove 34 of an extension of the roll l5, and having at its other end a, roller l9 cooperating with a face cam 20.

rotating with the shaft M, the roller I! being normally held in contact with such cam by a spring 2i or other appropriate means.

It will, of course, be understood that the setting of the cam with respect to the eccentrioally arranged pulley i6 is such as to impart the lateral shifting movement to the roll I! at the desired interval of the rotation 01' such roll, as hereinbefore suggested.

The drive shaft H, by which operative movement is transmitted to all of the moving parts of the feeding mechanism, is rotated in appropriate timed relation to the actuation of the various parts of the press or other machine with which the sheet feeding mechanism is associated, thereby ensuring feeding of the sheets in proper timed relation to the operation of the parts of the machine.

The space between the periphery of the roll I! and the press guides G is spanned by a plate 29 which acts as a support for the leading or forward edge of each fed sheet as it is brought to a stop against the guides G and I2.

It will be understood from the foregoing, and from the following description of the operation of the feeding mechanism, that the timing of the feeding of the sheets with respect to the rotation of the impression cylinder C, and the operation of other parts of the press, is such that as each sheet comes to rest against the guides G and I2, and the devices Iii complete their travel from the dotted line position to the full line position (Fig. 2) the sheet will be picked up by the impression cylinder and fed into the press, and thus its rear or following edge will be withdrawn from the pile in such time as not to interfere with proper engagement of the devices lll with the leading edge of the sheet next in order.

Preferably, blast means are provided, as is customary, for blowing upwardly upon the leading edges of the sheets lifted from the pile by the members in, in order to separate from the top sheet thus lifted any underlying sheets which might adhere to it. As shown, these means include a blast pipe 24 to which are connected, by flexible tubes, blast nozzles 25. Control of the eifect of the blast may be effected by means of a pet cock 26" arranged in the end of the blast pipe 2 and opening to atmosphere.

The operation of the feeding mechanism is substantially as follows:--The sheet gripping or air suction feet i0 actuated by the reciprocating arms 4 pick up the top sheet of the pile 30 and move it forward approximately half the distance from the forward edge of the pile to the impression cylinder C. (This distance is optional, as any part of the distance could be so traversed.) The front or leading edge of the sheet is deposited on the transverse roll I5 and air is kept constantly or intermittently blowing from the nozzles 23, thereby pressing the sheet to the roll to furnish the adequate but non-positive feeding contact hereinbefore referred to. Thus forward motion is imparted to the sheet with the rotation of the roll i5 until the sheet comes in contact with the press guides G when the sheet stops but the roll continues to turn slightly, skidding under the traction of the sheet and insuring good contact of the leading edge of the sheet with the guides. After the sheet has been advanced to contact with the press guides the roll, being practically stopped due to the nature of its drive means, is side-shifted by operation of the cam and lever connection 2ii-lil, carrying with it the sheet to effect side register or proper alignment of sheet with the guide 32 before going onto the cylinder C of the press. The air continues to blow, thus holding sheet in its registered position until it is moved forward by the gripping mechanism of the press cylinder. This operation is automatically repeated with each sheet fed.

When a sheet is deposited by the gripping or suction feet Iii onto the roll IS the suction is cut on and the air blow onto the roll holds the sheet firm so that it moves forward with the rotation of the roll. Meanwhile the gripping or suction feet M of the feeder are carried back by the reciprocating arms 4 and at the limit of this return stroke suction is again started to pick up another sheet and bring it to the roll to be deposited and carried on its forward journey by the rotation of the roll as just described. In this manner practically the whole time consumed in a press impression is used in advancing the sheet from the pile to the cylinder of the press. the timing mechanism being geared to the press so that one reciprocation is made backward and forward by the reciprocating arm 4 to each press impression.

Upon the shortness of the reciprocating movement sufiicient to get a sheet from the top of the pile to the press guides, and return to the pile, depends the rapidity of a feeding machine, as, obviously, a short stroke can be made in proportionately less time than a longer stroke. The unusually short stroke in the feeder of this invention is attainable by reason of the fact that the mechanism being so simple and parts so few, the feed board 2 may be brought very close to the press, and the pile of sheets Il may be placed thereon in a slanting position so that the top of the pile is nearer the press than the bottom and is kept automatically at the same height and at the same distance from the press guides. Moreover, the forward rotation of the transverse roll I! combined with the air blast upon the top thereof, whereby the rotation of the roll is imparted to the sheet, enables the sheet to complete its forward journey to the press guides after the stroke of the suction feet ill is ended and while they are on their backward journey to pick up another sheet. Thus it will be seen that the time consumed in the backward, idle, movement of the feet It is not lost but is utilized in completing the forward journey of the sheet, and when the sheet reaches the press guides and starts into the press the feet In are then at the approximate limit of their backward stroke and another sheet is, at practically that very instant, being started on its forward journey, with the consequent saving of time heretofore lost in the backward stroke.

Although reference is specifically made to a roll I5 which is used in conjunction with an air blow or blast, or suction, it is to be understood. of course, that other means may be employed instead of a roll, such as travelling tape means or other traveling surface that would advance and laterally shift the fed sheets in conjunction with the air blow or blast, or suction. Also, a plurality or series of rolls may be used, if desired, instead of only one roll; and other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine, a transfer roll interposed between said pile and the sheet-receiving parts of said machine, feeding means for successively delivering sheets from said pile to said transfer roll, and means for intermittently rotating said roll in timed relation to the operation of said feeding means, said rotating means including a constantly rotating drive shaft, a transmission member extending between said shaft and said roll, and means for intermittently engaging and releasing said transmission member.

2. In a sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine, a transfer roll interposed between said pile and the sheet-receiving parts of said machine, feeding means for successively delivering sheets from said pile to said transfer roll, and means for intermittently rotating said roll in timed relation to the operation of said feeding means, said rotating means including a constantly rotating drive shaft, a transmission member extending between said shaft and said roll, and means for producing intermittent driving engagement between said transmission member and drive shaft, comprising an eccentrically mounted pulley.

3. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predtermlned feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine, a transfer roll interposed between said pile and the sheet-receiving parts of said machine, feeding means for successively delivering sheets from said pile to said transfer roll, and means for intermittently rotating said roll in timed relation to the operation of said feeding means, said rotating means including a constantly rotating drive shaft, a transmission member extending between said shaft and said roll, a concentric pulley associated with said roll, and an eccentric pulley carried by said drive shaft and operable to alternately tighten and loosen said transmission member for intermittent driving engagement with said pulleys.

4. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine, a transfer roll interposed between said pile and the sheet-receiving parts of said machine, means for successively feeding sheets from said pile to said transfer roll, means for rotating said roll, and means for effecting transmission of the rotative movement of said roll to said sheets to feed the sheets to said machine, including means for blowing air upon said sheets longitudinally of said roll, and means for controlling the force of the blast of said blowing means.

5. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine provided with sheet-registering guides, transfer mechanism interposed between said pile and the sheet-receiving parts of said machine, and means for successively feeding individual sheets from said pile and delivering them to said transfer mechanism, said transfer mechanism including a roll intermittently rotated in timed relation to the operation of said feeding means and laterally shiftable, and means for holding sheets in feeding engagement with the surface of said roll, the rotative and shifting movements of said roll thereby serving alone to accomplish front and side register of the fed sheets with the sheet-registering guides of said machine.

6. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine provided with sheet-registering guides, transfer mechanism interposed between said pile and the sheet-receiving parts of said machine, means for successively feeding individual sheets from said pile and delivering them to said transfer mechanism, said transfer mechanism including a roll intermittently rotated in timed relation to the operation of said feeding means and laterally shiftable, and means for directing a blast of air upon the fed sheets from above and longitudinally of said roll to provide feeding engagement of said roll and sheets, the rotative and shifting movements of said roll thereby serving to accomplish front and side register of the fed sheets with the sheet-registering guides of said machine.

7. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine provided with sheet-registering guides, transfer mechanism interposed between said pile and the sheet-receiving parts of said machine, means for successively feeding individual sheets from said pile and delivering them to said transfer mechanism, said transfer mechanism including a roll intermittently rotated in timed relation to the operation of said feeding means and laterally shiftable, means for holding sheets in feeding engagement with the surface of said roll, the rotative and shifting movements of said roll thereby serving alone to accomplish front and side register of the fed sheets with the sheetregistering guides of said machine, said roll being actuated to accomplish side register of the fed sheets at approximately the termination of rotation of said roll.

8. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine provided with sheet-registering guides, means for successively transferring individual sheets from said pile to said guides, comprising mechanism. including a single transfer member operable to impart forward movement to said sheets and laterally shiftable to impart lateral movement to the sheets, and means exerting non-positive pressure upon said sheets to operatively engage them with said transfer memher which thus alone serves to accomplish their front and side register with said guides, the nonpositive pressure exerted by said pressure exerting means permitting relative movement between said transfer member and sheets after contact of the sheets with any of said guides.

9. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to aprinting press or similar machine provided with sheet-registering guides, means for successively transferring individual sheets from said pile to said guides, comprising mechanism including a single transfer member operable to impart forward motion to said sheets and laterally shiftable to impart lateral movement to the sheets, and means for blowing air upon the sheets and thus exerting nonpositlve pressure upon said sheets to operatively engage them with said transfer member whicn thus alone serves to accomplish their front and side register with said guides, the non-positive pressure exerted by said air permitting relative movement between said transfer member and sheets after contact of said sheets with any of said guides.

10. In sheet feeding mechanism for a printing press or similar machine provided with sheet registering guides, means for successively transferring sheets to said guides, including a transfer member operable to advance said sheets successively to said guides, said member being laterally shiftable, and means for exerting non-positive pressure upon successive sheets in contact with said transfer member to operatively engage them with said transfer member, the transfer member thus alone serving by its advancing and laterally shifting movement to accomplish front and side register of said sheets with said guides.

JACKSON TIPTON HALE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION I Patent No. 2,176,176.

October 17 1959.

JACKSON TIPTON HALE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 15, for "governer" read governed; page i second column, line 9, claim}, for "predtermined" read predetermined; line 75, claim 6, after serving" insert alone; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this lhth day of November, A. D., 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, Acting'Commissioner of Patents.

7. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine provided with sheet-registering guides, transfer mechanism interposed between said pile and the sheet-receiving parts of said machine, means for successively feeding individual sheets from said pile and delivering them to said transfer mechanism, said transfer mechanism including a roll intermittently rotated in timed relation to the operation of said feeding means and laterally shiftable, means for holding sheets in feeding engagement with the surface of said roll, the rotative and shifting movements of said roll thereby serving alone to accomplish front and side register of the fed sheets with the sheetregistering guides of said machine, said roll being actuated to accomplish side register of the fed sheets at approximately the termination of rotation of said roll.

8. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to a printing press or similar machine provided with sheet-registering guides, means for successively transferring individual sheets from said pile to said guides, comprising mechanism. including a single transfer member operable to impart forward movement to said sheets and laterally shiftable to impart lateral movement to the sheets, and means exerting non-positive pressure upon said sheets to operatively engage them with said transfer memher which thus alone serves to accomplish their front and side register with said guides, the nonpositive pressure exerted by said pressure exerting means permitting relative movement between said transfer member and sheets after contact of the sheets with any of said guides.

9. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets in predetermined feed position with respect to aprinting press or similar machine provided with sheet-registering guides, means for successively transferring individual sheets from said pile to said guides, comprising mechanism including a single transfer member operable to impart forward motion to said sheets and laterally shiftable to impart lateral movement to the sheets, and means for blowing air upon the sheets and thus exerting nonpositlve pressure upon said sheets to operatively engage them with said transfer member whicn thus alone serves to accomplish their front and side register with said guides, the non-positive pressure exerted by said air permitting relative movement between said transfer member and sheets after contact of said sheets with any of said guides.

10. In sheet feeding mechanism for a printing press or similar machine provided with sheet registering guides, means for successively transferring sheets to said guides, including a transfer member operable to advance said sheets successively to said guides, said member being laterally shiftable, and means for exerting non-positive pressure upon successive sheets in contact with said transfer member to operatively engage them with said transfer member, the transfer member thus alone serving by its advancing and laterally shifting movement to accomplish front and side register of said sheets with said guides.

JACKSON TIPTON HALE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION I Patent No. 2,176,176.

October 17 1959.

JACKSON TIPTON HALE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 15, for "governer" read governed; page i second column, line 9, claim}, for "predtermined" read predetermined; line 75, claim 6, after serving" insert alone; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this lhth day of November, A. D., 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, Acting'Commissioner of Patents. 

